Non-lethal weapon dispenser

ABSTRACT

This invention relates generally to hand operated dispensers for spraying liquids from pressurized containers and is particularly concerned with such dispensers that are adapted to be carried by the user, and that provide means for more accurately directing the spray as well as providing a number of safety features preventing accidental or other discharge of fluid when not desired.

United States Patent Inventors Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee Alan L. Litmnn Pittsburgh. Pa.;

Dennis K. Hackbarth, Lima, Ohio; Robert R. Hayes, Cleveland, Ohio858,355

Sept. 16, 1969 Aug. 31, 197 1 General Ordnance Equipment CorporationPittsburgh, Pa.

NON-LETHAL WEAPON DISPENSER 12 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

u.s. Cl 222/153,

Int. Cl B67d 5/32 Field of Search 222/147,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,530,583 11/1950 Nurkiewicz t.222/472 2,653,667 9/1953 Genin et al. 222/79 Primary EkamineF-Robert B.Reeves Assistant ExaminerJames M. Siattery AtmrneyPatrick J. Walsh 1ABSTRACT: This invention relates generally to hand operateddispensersfor spraying liquids from pressurized containers and is particularlyconcerned with such dispensers that are adapted to be carried by theuser, and that provide means for more accurately directing the spray aswell as providing a num ber of safety features preventing accidental orother discharge of fluid when not desired.

PATENTEU was] l9?! 3,602,399

sum 1 0F 2 1 ENTORS ALAN L. MAN DENNIS HACKBARTH BY ROBERT R. HAYESPATH-HEB AUB31 I971 sum 2 or 2 INVENTORS ALAN L. LITMAN DENNIS HACKBARTHBY ROBERT R. HAYES W i 141% w/ a ATTORNEY NON-LETI-IAL WEAPON DISPENSERSTATEMENT OF THE PRIOR ART Many liquids and gases are today packaged inpressurized spray containers ranging from such materials as paints,cosmetics, and the like to nonlethal weapons, that provide a liquidstream of lacrymating irritant. These latter devices are often carriedby police officers in belted holsters and are withdrawn and used underemergency conditions to temporarily subdue law violators.

Particularly for such police uses as well as many others, it is desiredthat the pressurized liquid stream be provided from a dispenser that canbe accurately aimed and directed at a selected target, both in darknessand in semidarkness, and often under emergency conditions wherein thepolice officer must rapidly withdraw the dispenser from its holster,aim, and spray an assailant in the shortest possible time.

Additionally for such uses, the pressurized irritant must be so housedin the dispenser that it cannot be fired or triggered by dropping it orstriking it by some foreign object, or during replacement of thepressurized cartridge, or under other conditions when not desired, sincesuch accidental .discharge might result in the police officer or someinnocent party being unintentionally sprayed with the lacrymatingingredients.

Presently available and known pressure spray dispensers do not providethese advantages or the safety features necessary to prevent unwanteddischarge and operation of the device as would be desired by the police.Therefore, it is a primary object of this invention to provide such adispenser having these features at a sufficiently low cost that is wellwithin the tax supported budgets of Police Departments and policeofficers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there isprovided a lightweight and portable dispenser for pressurized fluidsthat is generally in the form of a hand operated weapon, such as ahandgun, and that is adapted to incorporate a removable, cylindricallyshaped container or cartridge of pressurized fluid that is adapted toincorporate a removable, cylindrically shaped container or cartridge ofpressurized fluid that is substantially completely enclosed andprotected within the dispenser. The dispenser includes a'trigger-likelever at its forward side that is adapted to be squeezed by the fingerto actuate the valve of the enclosed pressurized cartridge andaccordingly direct the liquid spray forwardly from the dispenser. Theshape and arrangement of the hand gripping portion of the dispenser andof the triggering lever are such as to be easiiy accommodated within thehand in only one orientation with the spray nozzle portion beingdirected forwardly away from the user. For this reason, when the weaponis withdrawn from its holster it will be automatically aimed or directedin the forward direction away from the user in the same manner aspointing a finger and unlikely to spray the user or some innocent personeven under emergency conditions.

The dispenser incorporates means for easily and removably locking thecartridge inside the hand gripping portion and provides means associatedwith the trigger lever for actuating the valve of the cartridge toinitiate the spray discharge. The valve of the cartridge is enclosedwithin a protective cover and not otherwise easily actuated and thecartridge is completely closed within the dispenser, whereby thetriggering mechanism on the dispenser provides substantially the onlymanner of discharging the spray.

To protect against unwanted discharge should the dispenser or itstrigger be struck with a foreign object, or should the. dispenser bedropped, the dispenser incorporates a novel slidable threeway safetymechanism that is easily operated by the finger of the user in a mannersimilar to the safety" of a handgun.

In one position of the safety mechanism, the dispenser may be opened toremove and replace the cartridge but in that position the dispenser maynot be fired or actuated to accidentally discharge a spray.

in a second or full safety position of the mechanism, that is normallyused where the weapon is holstered, the dispenser may not be opened normay it be fired.

In the third and final position of the safety," the dispenser may befired but may not be opened. This is normally the operating mode for useof the weapon.

As an additional feature of the invention, inexpensive means areprovided for enabling the user to rapidly determine the remainingcontents in the cartridge so as to be aware in advance whether areplacement cartridge should be inserted into the dispenser.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferreddispenser according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a portion of a perspective view, similar to FIG. 1, but partlyin section and illustrating the trigger lever partially in openposition,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 1, and showing the triggerlever in full openposition and the cartridge partially removed,

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the underside of the triggerlever showing the construction of fixed portions'of the safety mechanismadapted to interengage with the safety slide member in FIG. 5,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the safety slide member, and

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 are diagrammatic views illustrating the interaction ofthe safety slide mechanism with the complementing portions on thetrigger lever for each of the three modes of operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1and 2, the dispenser 10 is provided with a hollow hand gripping portion11 to be accommodated within the hand of the user and encircled by thefingers. A recessed portion on the handle near the forefinger,accommodates the finger operated trigger 12 located at the front of thehandle portion. Above the hand gripping portion 11, there is provided anenlarged head portion 13 having a forwardly directed opening 14 locatedabove the trigger 12, and with the head portion accommodating areciprocally slideable safety" member having buttonlike projections l5and 15a passing through opposite sides of the head portion 13 and easilyengageable on either side of the head portion 13 by the same fingersthatgrasp the hand portion 11.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the trigger 12 is preferably an integralpart of an L-shaped trigger lever 16 that is pivotally connected at therear of the head portion 13 at position 17, which lever in :its closedposition, as shown in FIG. 1, forms a major portion of the front face18, the top face 19, and the rear face 20 of the head portion 13. Whenthe lever is pivoted in its rearwardly open position shown in FIG. 3, itprovides an enlarged opening at the top of the dispenser to receive acylindrically shaped pressurized container 21 or cartridge carrying thepressurized fluid. The cartridge 21 is adapted to be inserted andremoved through this opening in the top of the dispenser, as shown inFIG. 3, and to be placed downwardly and accommodated inside of thehollow handle or gripping portion 11 of the dispenser.

The front face 18 of thetrigger lever includes the forwardly facing holeor opening 14 permitting a jet spray emitted by the nozzle 22 of thecartridge to be discharged through this opening 14 of the dispenser.

The cartridge 21 is provided with a specially configured cap 23 thatprovides a numberof functions; including aligning the spray nozzle 22 ofthe cartridge with the forwardly facing opening 14 in thetrigger' lever16. Italso serves the function of detachably locking the cartridgeinside of the hollow handle portion 11 of the dispenser.

For aligningand locking the cartridge 21, thecap 23 is pro- I vided withan outwardly projecting lip 24 that is adapted to en- For properinsertion, the cartridge 21 is placed downwardly into the hollow handleportion 11 with its lip 24 facing the front opening, and is lowereduntil a flange 26 at the base of the cap 23 strikes and rests on a rim27 provided on the inside wall of the dispenser and projecting radiallyinward. The cartridge 21 is then rotated or pivoted for a partial turnwherein the lip 24 on the cap 23 passes between the shoulder 25 and therim 27 that is spaced below the shoulder. This locks the cartridge 21inside the dispenser and also aligns the nozzle 22 of the cartridge withthe opening 14 in the trigger lever 16. The lip 24 on the cap 23projects sufi'lciently outwardly and is pointed at its end so that itstrikes the inner wall 13a of the dispenser when the nozzle 22 isproperly oriented, thereby preventing further rotation of the cartridge21 within the dispenser and maintaining the nozzle 22 properly facingforward.

With the exception of the cap 23, the pressurized cartridge 21 is of aconventional type having a conventional inner valve (not shown) that isoperated by a downward displacement of the valve actuator 28 at the topof the cartridge 21. The outer cap 23 over the cartridge 21 completelycovers the valve actuating portion 28 of the cartridge except for anL-shaped slit 29 providing a narrow opening at the top and front face tothe cartridge 21. The forward front face slit opening portion providesoutward access for the spray from nozzle 22, and the slit openingthrough the cap at the top provides the opening for applying a memberinto the cap to operate the valve of the cartridge for spraying.

For actuating the valve of the cartridge 21 to emit a spray, theunderside of the trigger lever 16 is provided with a narrow projectingridge member 31) having a pointed tip and being of slightly less widththan the slit 29 through the cartridge cap 23. As best shown in FIG. 2,when the trigger lever 16 is rotated to a closed position, the tip ofthe ridge 30 enters the slit 29 in the cartridge cap 23 and continueddown movement of the trigger lever 16 applied by gently squeezing thetrigger 12 causes the tip of the ridge member 30 to press downwardly onthe valve operator 28, of the cartridge to operate the valve, thereby toemit a spray through the nozzle. These parts are so proportioned thatthe rotation of the trigger lever 16 to the closed position shown inFIG. 1 positions the pointed tip of ridge 30 immediately above the topface 28 of the cartridge; and further rotation, downwardly and inwardlyof the trigger lever 16, by squeezing the trigger portion 12 is requiredto actuate the cartridge valve mechanism.

To prevent the accidental or other firing of the weapon during loadingor unloading of the cartridge, or when it is dropped or struck by aforeign object; or at any time when it is not desired to be fired, thedispenser is provided with a threeway safety lock mechanism that iscontrolled by a reciprocally moveable safety slide member -l5a passingthrough the sides 13. 13a on the upper portion of the dispenser. Thisslide is located immediately above the trigger 12 at the front of thedispenser as shown in the drawings.

As best shown in the enlarged view in FIG. 5, the safety slide is ahorizontally disposed member having one end of circular cross section 15projecting through a circular opening in one wall 13 of the dispenser 10and its opposite end 150 being of rectangular cross section andprojecting through a rectangular opening in the other spaced wall 13a. Aspring 32 about the circular end of the slide member, has one endbearing against the inside of the wall 13 and its other end bearingagainst portions of the slide to urge the slide to the left, as viewedin FIG. 5. This urges the slide to its lockecl" or normal positionwherein the trigger lever 16 is locked and prevented from either firingthe cartridge or from rotating to the open position of FIG. 3. This isthe normal position of the slide when carrying the dispenser in aholster, or when storing it so that it can not be fired accidentally orotherwise.

After the weapon is withdrawn from its holster, and the police officerdesires to fire it, he merely raises his thumb from the handgrip portionof the dispenser 11 where it normally rests and depresses the circularportion of the slide to the left as viewed in FIG. 5. This places thesafety mechanism in the ready" or fire" position to fire whenever thetrigger 12 is squeezed. As will be recalled, squeezing the trigger 12,rotates the trigger lever 16 slightly downwardly and inwardly to fire aspray from the cartridge by operating the cartridge valve as discussedabove. This fire position, however, prevents rotation of the triggerlever 16 upwardly so that the trigger lever 16 cannot be accidentally orotherwise opened to the position shown in FIG. 3.

In the third and final position of the safety slide, the user canreciprocate the safety slide far to the right, as viewed in FIG. 5, bydepressing the opposite square shaped end of the safety slide. Movementof the slide to the right by a sufficient distance releases the triggerlever 16 permitting it to be rotated upwardly for removing and replacingthe cartridge 21. However this position of the safety slide preventsrotation of the trigger lever 16 downwardly so that the weapon cannot beaccidentally operated or fired when it is being opened for replacing thecartridge.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate in enlarged form, the interacting parts of thereciprocally moveable safety slide and the interacting portions of thetrigger lever 16 to efiectuate these three modes of operation. As shownin FIG. 5, the central portion of the safety slide includes twooutwardly facing spaced projection members 35 and 36 positioned oneabove the other and providing a C-shaped configuration, and includes athird projecting portion 37 disposed longitudinally adjacent theprojecting member 36. As schematically shown in FIG. 4, the underside ofthe trigger lever 16 also includes a pair of inwardly spaced projectingmembers 38 and 39 at a position located above the trigger portion 12.The upper inwardly projecting member 38 on the trigger lever is ofgenerally square shaped cross section as shown, and the lower member 39is of rectangular configuration that is considerably wider than member38 but projects inwardly for essentially the same distance. The lowermember 39 has a much broader base and size than the other projectingmember 38. These inwardly projecting members located on the underside ofthe trigger lever 16 normally confront the outward projections 35 and 36on the safety slide, such that when the trigger lever 16 is rotated intoits closed or substantially closed position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,the interaction of these members provides the three modes of operation.

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 diagrammatically illustrate the interaction of thereciprocal safety slide with the opposing portions on the underside ofthe trigger lever 16 to provide the three modes of operation discussed.

FIG. 7 illustrates the interaction of the projections 35 and 36 on thesafety slide with projections 38 and 39 on the trigger lever 16 for thelock" or safety position. In this position of the safety slide, itsprojections 35 and 36 are interfitted in the spaces between and abovethe projections 38 and 39 on the trigger lever 16, and accordingly thetrigger lever 16 is locked and cannot rotate in either direction toeither fire the weapon 10 or to open the lever 16 of the weapon 10 forremoving the pressurized cartridge. Since the trigger lever 16 isL-shaped and rotates about one end, rotation in either directionrequires a slight upward or downward direction of motion which isprevented by the surfaces of projecting members 39 and 38 on the lever16 striking the confronting surfaces of the projections 35 and 36 on theslide member.

In order to fire the weapon, the safety slide is reciprocated to theright as shown in FIG. 8. In this position, the trigger lever 16 can berotated downwardly and inwardly by squeezing the trigger 12, since theprojections 35 and 36 of the safety slide are displaced to the right andout of interfitting engagement with the projections 38 and 39 on thetrigger lever 16. However, in this position, the trigger lever 16 cannotbe rotated to an open position, since this involves a slight upward andoutward movement of the trigger lever 16 and any such attempted upwardmovement of the trigger lever causes the upper surface of projections 39on the lever to strike the base surface of projection 36 on the safetyslide. Therefore, as

briefly discussed above, in the fire" position of the safety lever, thetrigger can be squeezed inwardly to fire the weapon, but the triggerlever 16 cannot be rotated upwardly to open the top of the dispenser toremove the cartridge.

In the final position of the safety slide where it is desired to openthe trigger lever 16 permitting replacement of the cartridge, yet, it isalso desired to prevent accidental firing of the spray, the interactionof the members is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 6. In this mode, thesafety slide is moved to the left as viewed in this figure, and theprojections 35 and 36 of the safety slide are also positioned out ofinterfitting relationship with the projections 38 and 39 on the triggerlever 16. However, the lesser projection. 37 or stop located alongsidelower projection 36 on the safety slide is positioned between theprojections 38 and 39 on the trigger lever 16. This projecting member 37does not extend as far outwardly as do the other projections 35 and 36on the safety slide and therefore it permits upward and outward movementof the trigger lever 16 as necessary for rotating the lever to its openposition shown in FIG. 3. However, it does provide a stop preventing theinward and downward motion of the trigger arm 16 as would be necessaryfor firing the weapon. Therefore, in this position, the dispenser may beopened to remove and replace the cartridge 21 but cannot be accidentallyor otherwise fired during this replacement operation.

For an understanding of the manner of properly operating the safetyslide in each of these three positions, reference is again made to FIG.5. The safety slide additionally includes an integrally formed upperspring arm 42 having a pointed portion which is normally urged by thecompression spring to bear against a projecting cam surface 43 attachedto the inner wall 130 of the dispenser. In the normal locked safetyposition of the slide shown in FIG. 7, the action of spring 32 andspring arm 42 against the cammed stop 43 centers the safety slide tomaintain the trigger lever locked or in safety position as shown in FIG.7.

When the safety slide is reciprocated to the left, as viewed in FIG. 5,to its fire" position, the pointed spring arm 42 is deformed forwardlyby the cam and rides up the cam surface 43a of the cam 43 in its traveluntil striking a depression 43b forming a detent. The arm 42 then snapsback into place in the detent 43b. Thereafter the'safety slide is heldin this fire position by the pointed spring arm 42 seating within thedetent or depression 43b of the stop member 43. For restoring the slideto safety," the projecting left-hand end of the slide (15a in FIG. 5) isthen depressed to move the safety slide to the right and displace thespring arm 42 out of its detent 43b to its initial position engaging thecam surface 43a. This permits the slide to reciprocate to its centeredlocked or safety position.

For opening the dispenser by displacing the slide to its third position,and further to the right, as viewed in FIG. 5, (to the left in FIG. 6),the square end 15a is further depressed to the right against theresistance of compression spring 32. When the projections 35 and 36 onthe slide are out of interfitting relationship with projections 38 and39 on the trigger lever 16, a pair of wire springs 50 and 51 attached tothe underside of the face 19 of the trigger lever 16 (FIGS. 2 and 3)push up against the cap 23 of the cartridge 21 and cause the triggerlever 16 to pop open to its position shown in FIG. 2. For again closingthe dispenser, the square end 15a of the safety slide is againmomentarily pressed against spring 32(to the right in FIG. 5) permittingthe trigger lever 16 to be closed, whereupon the safety slide isreleased to again lock the trigger lever 16 in its normal closedposition of FIG. 7.

For low cost and lightweight construction, all of the parts discussedabove with the exception of the pressurized car-' tridge container 21are preferably constructed of plastic materials. The body and walls ofthe dispenser, including both upper and lower portions are preferablymolded in two complementing sections that are adapted to fit together asshown and are made of high strength and impact resistant rigid plastic.The L-.shaped trigger lever member 16 is also molded as a one-piece unitof such suitable plastic materials. The safety slide member of FIG. 5 isalso preferably molded in one integral piece of a semirigid toughplastic; and the specially formed cap 23 for the standard cartridge 21is also molded o" rigid plastic and having the slotted opening 29 asshown as well as the flange 26 and projection 24 as integral partsthereof.

We claim:

1. In a nonlethal weapon for producing a liquid spray of lacrymatingirritant from a pressurized container,

a body member for retaining the container and being shaped to beaccommodated in only one given orientation within the hand,

a trigger member pivotally mounted on the body member to actuate thecontainer to emit a spray and having a finger squeezing portion disposedto be squeezed by the finger when the body member is held in the givenorientation,

and a selectively adjustable lock and safety means for selectivelylocking'the trigger against movement; for permitting actuation of thetrigger to spray; and for permitting removal of the container from thebody portion;

said lock and safety means including a safety member moveably supportedon the body and having portions interengageable with the triggermechanism, said safety member in a first position with respect to thebody member preventing pivotal movement of the trigger member in eitherdirection; in a second position permitting combined downwardand inwardpivotal movement of the trigger mechanism but preventing upward andoutward movement thereof; and in a third position permitting upward andoutward pivotal movement of the trigger mechanism and preventingdownward and inward movement thereof.

2. In a nonlethal weapon for producing a liquid spray of lacrymatingirritant from a pressurized container,

a body member for retaining the container and being shaped to beaccommodated in only one given orientation within the hand,

atrigger member pivotally mounted on the body member to actuate thecontainer to emit a spray and having a finger squeezing portion disposedto be squeezed by the finger when the body member is held in the givenorientation,

and a selectively adjustable lock and safety means for selectivelylocking the trigger against movement; for permitting actuation of thetrigger to spray; and for permitting removal of the container from thebody portion;

said trigger member including a U-shaped member pivotallyinterconnectedwith the body member at the rear of the body member toprovide a combined inward and downward movement when squeezed toward thebody member and a combined upward and outward movement when pivoted awayfrom the body member, said trigger member being provided with a C-shapedprojection on its underside facing the body member, and said safetymeans including a member having a complimentary C-shaped projectionfacing the underside of the said trigger member and being moveablysupported on the body member to variously intergage with positions ofsaid C- shaped projection on the trigger member in different relativepositions thereof.

3. In a nonlethal weapon for producing a liquid spray of lacrymatingirritant from a pressurized container,

a body member for retaining the container and being shaped to beaccommodated in only one given orientation within the hand,

a trigger member pivotally mounted on the body member to actuate thecontainer to emit a spray and having a finger squeezing portion disposedto besque ezed by the finger when the body member is held in the givenorientation,

and a selectively adjustable lock and safety means for selectivelylocking the trigger against movement; for permitting actuation of thetrigger to spray; and for permitting removal of the container from thebody portion;

said body 'member comprised of a hollow receptacle for detachablyretaining the pressurized container, and said trigger member beingdisposed with respect to said body to pivot downwardly toward saidpressurized container when the trigger is squeezed and upwardly fromsaid pressurized container when the trigger mechanism is pivoted in theopposite direction, and said trigger member being provided withactuating means for operating the container to emit a spray.

4. In the weapon of claim 3, said body member and said trigger membersubstantially completely enclosing the spray emitting portions of saidpressurized container to prevent undesired actuation of the pressurecontainer, and said trigger member being pivotally positionable awayfrom said body member to provide access to said pressurized containerfor replacement.

5. In the weapon of claim 1, means associated with said pressurizedcontainer and said body member for detachably locking said pressurizedcontainer and said body portion in only one given orientation.

6. In the weapon of claim 5, said means comprising an enclosing cap oversaid container, and a latching means provided within said body portionfor engaging with said projecting member to detachably lock saidcontainer within said body portion.

7. In the dispenser of claim 1, said body member comprising a hollowreceptacle having an opening to receive the pres surized container, andsaid pivotally supported trigger member being oriented to close saidopening when pivoted in a closed direction and to expose said openingfor access to said container when pivoted in an open direction,

8. In the weapon of claim 7, said trigger member including an inwardlyfacing projection confronting said pressurized container when saidtrigger mechanism is pivoted toward said closed position, and meanspermitting actuation of said pressurized container only by saiddownwardly projecting means when said trigger member is further squeezedin said closed position.

9. A dispenser for spraying fluids from a pressurized container having avalve and nozzle;

a receptacle having means for retaining the valve and nozzle of saidpressurized container in a substantially completely enclosed manner toprevent undesired actuation, said receptacle having a hand grippingportion that is shaped to be accommodated in only one given easyorientation within the hand,

a trigger mechanism pivotally mounted on said receptacle and having afinger engaging portion disposed at a forward position of saidreceptacle to be actuated by the finger when the receptacle is retainedin said given orientation in the hand,

said trigger mechanism comprising a portion of the said enclosure whenpivoted in its downward direction and providing an opening in saidreceptacle for access to said cylinder when pivoted in its upwardposition,

said trigger mechanism including an inwardly projecting actuating memberdisposed to actuate the valve mechanism of said enclosed container,

and safety means for selectively locking the trigger mechanism againstany movement; for permitting actuation of the trigger mechanism tooperate the valve of said container; and for selectively permittingupward pivoting of said trigger mechanism for access to remove the pressurized container.

10. In a nonlethal weapon for spraying lacrymating irritant from apressurized container having a valve and nozzle,

a dispenser comprising a hollow receptacle for accommodating saidcontainer and having an opening to receive and remove the container,

said dispenser including a hand gripping portion shaped for orientationin the hand in one easy direction,

a trigger mechanism pivotally supported on said dispenser and havingmeans for actuating said valve when the tri er is squeezed, said triggermechanism pivotally positionable to selectively cover and uncover saidopening and being provided with an opening aligned with said nozzle,

means associated with said dispenser for detachably retaining saidcontainer in only one orientation with respect to said dispenser withthe container nozzle facing forwardly when said hand gripping portion isretained in said easy orientation,

and adjustable safety means supported on said dispenser for selectivelylocking and unlocking said trigger mechanism for pivotal movement.

11. In the dispenser of claim 10, said trigger mechanism comprising aU-shaped member disposed over the top of said hand gripping portion withone leg of the U-shaped member pivotally supported at the rear side ofthe hand gripping portion and the other leg thereof disposed over thefront side of the hand gripping portion and forming a finger engagingtrigger, whereby said finger engaging trigger is constrained to move ina combined downward and inward direction when the trigger is squeezedand constrained to move in an combined upward and outward direction whenthe trigger is pivoted in the opposite direction.

12. A dispenser comprising the combination of a container and a bodymember:

the container comprising a receptacle for receiving and storing materialto be sprayed, a dispensing valve on said container, a cap for coveringthe container having a first opening through which said material isdispensed, said cap provided with a second opening to provide access tosaid valve, a positioning projection on said cap;

the body member having an internal recess for receiving the containerand an external surface configuration suitable for manual gripping,means on the body member cooperating with said positioning projection toorient the container in a given direction within the body member, atrigger member pivotally mounted on the body member having a projectionadapted to register with said second opening and to engage saiddispensing valve whereby the trigger when moved in a given directionabout its pivot actuates the valve, and a selectively adjustable lockand safety means on said body member for selectively locking the triggeragainst movement, for permitting actuating of the trigger to spray, andfor permitting removal of the container from the body portion.

1. In a nonlethal weapon for producing a liquid spray of lacrymatingirritant from a pressurized container, a body member for retaining thecontainer and being shaped to be accommodated in only one givenorientation within the hand, a trigger member pivotally mounted on thebody member to actuate the container to emit a spray and having a fingersqueezing portion disposed to be squeezed by the finger when the bodymember is held in the given orientation, and a selectively adjustablelock and safety means for selectively locking the trigger againstmovement; for permitting actuation of the trigger to spray; and forpermitting removal of the container from the body portion; said lock andsafety means including a safety member moveably supported on the bodyand having portions interengageable with the trigger mechanism, saidsafety member in a first position with respect to the body memberpreventing pivotal movement of the trigger member in either direction;in a second position permitting combined downward and inward pivotalmovement of the trigger mechanism but preventing upward and outwardmovement thereof; and in a third position permitting upward and outwardpivotal movement of the trigger mechanism and preventing downward andinward movement thereof.
 2. In a nonlethal weapon for producing a liquidspray of lacrymating irritAnt from a pressurized container, a bodymember for retaining the container and being shaped to be accommodatedin only one given orientation within the hand, a trigger memberpivotally mounted on the body member to actuate the container to emit aspray and having a finger squeezing portion disposed to be squeezed bythe finger when the body member is held in the given orientation, and aselectively adjustable lock and safety means for selectively locking thetrigger against movement; for permitting actuation of the trigger tospray; and for permitting removal of the container from the bodyportion; said trigger member including a U-shaped member pivotallyinterconnected with the body member at the rear of the body member toprovide a combined inward and downward movement when squeezed toward thebody member and a combined upward and outward movement when pivoted awayfrom the body member, said trigger member being provided with a C-shapedprojection on its underside facing the body member, and said safetymeans including a member having a complimentary C-shaped projectionfacing the underside of the said trigger member and being moveablysupported on the body member to variously intergage with positions ofsaid C-shaped projection on the trigger member in different relativepositions thereof.
 3. In a nonlethal weapon for producing a liquid sprayof lacrymating irritant from a pressurized container, a body member forretaining the container and being shaped to be accommodated in only onegiven orientation within the hand, a trigger member pivotally mounted onthe body member to actuate the container to emit a spray and having afinger squeezing portion disposed to be squeezed by the finger when thebody member is held in the given orientation, and a selectivelyadjustable lock and safety means for selectively locking the triggeragainst movement; for permitting actuation of the trigger to spray; andfor permitting removal of the container from the body portion; said bodymember comprised of a hollow receptacle for detachably retaining thepressurized container, and said trigger member being disposed withrespect to said body to pivot downwardly toward said pressurizedcontainer when the trigger is squeezed and upwardly from saidpressurized container when the trigger mechanism is pivoted in theopposite direction, and said trigger member being provided withactuating means for operating the container to emit a spray.
 4. In theweapon of claim 3, said body member and said trigger membersubstantially completely enclosing the spray emitting portions of saidpressurized container to prevent undesired actuation of the pressurecontainer, and said trigger member being pivotally positionable awayfrom said body member to provide access to said pressurized containerfor replacement.
 5. In the weapon of claim 1, means associated with saidpressurized container and said body member for detachably locking saidpressurized container and said body portion in only one givenorientation.
 6. In the weapon of claim 5, said means comprising anenclosing cap over said container, and a latching means provided withinsaid body portion for engaging with said projecting member to detachablylock said container within said body portion.
 7. In the dispenser ofclaim 1, said body member comprising a hollow receptacle having anopening to receive the pressurized container, and said pivotallysupported trigger member being oriented to close said opening whenpivoted in a closed direction and to expose said opening for access tosaid container when pivoted in an open direction.
 8. In the weapon ofclaim 7, said trigger member including an inwardly facing projectionconfronting said pressurized container when said trigger mechanism ispivoted toward said closed position, and means permitting actuation ofsaid pressurized container only by said downwardly projecting means whensaid trigger member is further squeezed in said closed position.
 9. Adispenser for spraying fluids from a pressurized container having avalve and nozzle; a receptacle having means for retaining the valve andnozzle of said pressurized container in a substantially completelyenclosed manner to prevent undesired actuation, said receptacle having ahand gripping portion that is shaped to be accommodated in only onegiven easy orientation within the hand, a trigger mechanism pivotallymounted on said receptacle and having a finger engaging portion disposedat a forward position of said receptacle to be actuated by the fingerwhen the receptacle is retained in said given orientation in the hand,said trigger mechanism comprising a portion of the said enclosure whenpivoted in its downward direction and providing an opening in saidreceptacle for access to said cylinder when pivoted in its upwardposition, said trigger mechanism including an inwardly projectingactuating member disposed to actuate the valve mechanism of saidenclosed container, and safety means for selectively locking the triggermechanism against any movement; for permitting actuation of the triggermechanism to operate the valve of said container; and for selectivelypermitting upward pivoting of said trigger mechanism for access toremove the pressurized container.
 10. In a nonlethal weapon for sprayinglacrymating irritant from a pressurized container having a valve andnozzle, a dispenser comprising a hollow receptacle for accommodatingsaid container and having an opening to receive and remove thecontainer, said dispenser including a hand gripping portion shaped fororientation in the hand in one easy direction, a trigger mechanismpivotally supported on said dispenser and having means for actuatingsaid valve when the trigger is squeezed, said trigger mechanismpivotally positionable to selectively cover and uncover said opening andbeing provided with an opening aligned with said nozzle, meansassociated with said dispenser for detachably retaining said containerin only one orientation with respect to said dispenser with thecontainer nozzle facing forwardly when said hand gripping portion isretained in said easy orientation, and adjustable safety means supportedon said dispenser for selectively locking and unlocking said triggermechanism for pivotal movement.
 11. In the dispenser of claim 10, saidtrigger mechanism comprising a U-shaped member disposed over the top ofsaid hand gripping portion with one leg of the U-shaped member pivotallysupported at the rear side of the hand gripping portion and the otherleg thereof disposed over the front side of the hand gripping portionand forming a finger engaging trigger, whereby said finger engagingtrigger is constrained to move in a combined downward and inwarddirection when the trigger is squeezed and constrained to move in ancombined upward and outward direction when the trigger is pivoted in theopposite direction.
 12. A dispenser comprising the combination of acontainer and a body member: the container comprising a receptacle forreceiving and storing material to be sprayed, a dispensing valve on saidcontainer, a cap for covering the container having a first openingthrough which said material is dispensed, said cap provided with asecond opening to provide access to said valve, a positioning projectionon said cap; the body member having an internal recess for receiving thecontainer and an external surface configuration suitable for manualgripping, means on the body member cooperating with said positioningprojection to orient the container in a given direction within the bodymember, a trigger member pivotally mounted on the body member having aprojection adapted to register with said second opening and to engagesaid dispensing valve whereby the trigger when moved in a givendirection about its pivot actuates the valve, and a selectivelyadjustable lock and safety means on said body member for selectivelylOcking the trigger against movement, for permitting actuating of thetrigger to spray, and for permitting removal of the container from thebody portion.